43rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society

Rejuvenating Healthcare Infrastructure

September 17-19, 2023
RBC Convention Centre - Winnipeg Manitoba 

Now posted: Full Conference Program

Wednesday March 22, 2023 1200 ET
Decarbonization for Healthcare Buildings - The Giant Step Forward
Ted Loucks, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CEM, LEED AP, Partner, MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd

Link to access the IFHE Digest for 2023

The 23 articles in the 97-page 2023 IFHE Digest offer in-depth coverage of healthcare engineering expertise, good practice, and technology, over a range of topics including decarbonisation, cutting-edge departmental design, infection control via optimum ventilation, and the representation of women in healthcare engineering.  There is also plenty of information about the IFHE itself, including a review of 27th IFHE Congress that took place in Toronto last year, and a look ahead to the 28th Congress in Cape Town in October 2024.

In March of 2022, CSA Group released the 5th edition of CSA Z317.13, Infection control during construction, renovation, and maintenance of health care facilities in English. This important standard has continued its growth through the advancement of technologies and techniques that are in use throughout Canada. The French version is expected to follow later this year.

There are many changes in the 2022 edition of the standard including changes to performance leak testing requirements of both HEPA filtered vacuums and construction air handling units (CAHUs). There has been additional information added regarding planning and implementing plumbing system shutdowns in existing buildings and maintaining plumbing system quality for new construction. There are also new requirements for accessing ceiling spaces in occupied spaces when performing maintenance tasks. One area of notable change to the standard has been a complete reorganization of the clause referencing new construction which will make the many new requirements contained in this section easier to locate.